Processes for the production of aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphate and disaccharide immunoeffectors, and intermediates therefor

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to processes for production of alkylamino glucosaminide phosphate compounds, and of disaccharide compounds, including various novel intermediates and intermediate processes. In one aspect, glycosyl halides are produced by reaction of an O-silyl glycoside with a dihalomethyl alkyl ether.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/472,991 filed Sep. 25, 2003, which is a United States national stage [35 USC 371(c)] application of International patent application PCT/US20023/021504, which in turn claims priority of U.S. provisional application 60/394,487 filed Jul. 8, 2002. Said provisional application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/137,730, filed Apr. 30, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/043,089, filed Jan. 8, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/905,106, filed Jul. 12, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/439,839, filed Nov. 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,347, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/853,826, filed May 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,918. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/074,720 filed May 7, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,257, which is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No. 853,826. This application also claims priority of U.S. provisional application 60/438,585 filed Jan. 6, 2003. All of said patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference, in their totalities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to processes for the production of aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphate (AGP) and of disaccharide compounds. Such compounds have been found to be immunoeffectors, adjuvants for vaccines and the like, and in addition, can possess therapeutic and/or prophylactic properties of their own. In addition, this invention relates to processes for the production of glycosyl halides, which can serve as intermediates in the synthesis of AGP compounds, disaccharides, and structurally related molecules. Further, this invention relates to an improved method for synthesizing (R)-3-n-alkanoyltetradecanoic acids, which are intermdiates utilized in production of AGPs.

Aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphates are described in a number of patents, published patent applications, and journal articles. Such compounds in general have five or six acyl groups in the molecular structure, together with an “aglycon” (nitrogen-containing portion), which may be cyclical or acyclical. AGPs having acyclical aglycon groups are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,113,918; 6,303,347 and 6,355,257. AGPs having cyclical aglycon groups are disclosed, for instance, in WO 02/012258.

The above-mentioned documents describe the production of the AGP compounds by two alternative processes. In one process a protected 3-O-acyloxyacylated glycosyl halide containing a phosphonate side chain is coupled with an aminoalkanol or aminoalkanethiol of the type described in the patents. The reaction product is then selectively acylated to provide additional acyl groups, as described, and protecting groups are removed. In the second process, both the phosphonate side chain and the fatty acid groups are incorporated after the coupling reaction. Additional process information for producing AGP compounds is contained in Johnson et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 9: 2273 (1999).

Disaccharides that may be produced by the processes described herein include components of the well known immunostimulant monophosphoryl lipid A (contained, for example in MPL® immunostimulant (Corixa Corp.) Other disaccharides that may be produced are disclosed in, for instance, PCT application WO 01/90129 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,013,640; 4,987,237; 4,912,094; 4,436,727; and 4,436,728. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,640 the disaccharide was prepared by coupling an N-acyloxyacylated or N-protected glycosyl acceptor unit with a protected and/or 3-O-acyloxyacylated glycosyl donor unit. The protecting groups were variously benzyl (Bn) and 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc) groups. The glycosyl acceptor and donor units were constructed separately using a series of substituent protection and deprotection steps, beginning with the known starting materials benzyl- and 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-β-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

Glycosyl halides are used in many processes to introduce a glycoside moiety into a molecule, typically as part of a multistep synthesis in the field of saccharide chemistry. They are useful intermediates for incorporating a wide variety of groups, typically by reaction with nucleophiles, especially oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen nucleophiles. It would be advantageous to provide a process for producing the AGP and disaccharide compounds using a glycosyl halide as a starting material.

Various ways of producing glycosyl halides have been described. Generally, they involve halogenation of an existing glycoside (which may contain typical protecting groups on reactive moieties such as amino or hydroxyl).

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,897, for example, an ethyl ester of the glycoside in question (in this instance, N-acetyl neuraminic acid) is reacted with acetyl chloride to produce the corresponding glycosyl chloride. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,463, a glycosyl chloride is produced by reacting the glycoside in question (3-O-allyl-5-O-benzyl-1,2-O-methoxybenzylidene-alpha-D-ribofuranose) with trimethylsilyl chloride. The reaction is conducted by mixing the two reactants or by dissolving the glycoside in the trimethylsilyl chloride.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,590 discloses a process for preparation of glycosyl chloride by treatment of the glycoside with titanium tetrachloride. In Sugiyama et al., Org. Lett. 2: 2713 (2000), glycosyl chlorides were prepared by reaction of thioglycosides with chlorosulfoniun chloride.

Kovac, Carbohydr. Res. 245: 219 (2993) prepared a glycosyl chloride by reaction of the glycoside with dichloromethyl methyl ether and zinc chloride. Takeo et al., Carbohydr. Res. 245: 81 (1993) produced a glycosyl chloride by reaction with chlorine. Magnusson et al., J. Org. Chem. 55:3181 (1990) produced a glycosyl chloride by reaction of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl glycoside with 1,1-dichloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of a catalytic amount of zinc chloride.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a group of related novel processes for the production of aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphates and of disaccharides, together with intermediate processes and compounds.

In one aspect, the invention comprises processes for the production of aminoalkyl glucosaminide (AGP) compounds.

In a second aspect the invention relates to a process for producing glycosyl halides that comprises reacting a silyl glycoside with a dihalomethyl alkyl ether in the presence of zinc chloride, zinc bromide, boron trifluoride, or a similar Lewis acid. This step also comprises the first of a two-step process for removing an anomeric silyl protecting group from the silyl glycoside by first reacting it to produce a glycosyl halide, which is then reacted it with a silver salt in the presence of water to produce a hemiacetal.

In another aspect this invention comprises a process comprising first producing the glycosyl halide as above, followed by reaction of the glycosyl halide with a monosaccharide in the presence of a silver salt to form a disaccharide.

Another aspect of this invention comprises a process for producing a disaccharide comprising reacting a monosaccharide with a silyl glycoside.

Yet another aspect of this invention comprises a process for silylation of a disaccharide and optionally for subsequently adding a phosphono side chain to the disaccharide.

A still further aspect of this invention comprises a process for producing a triacylated disaccharide from a disaccharide.

Yet another aspect of the invention is a process for removing an acetyl protecting group from a disaccharide.

Yet a further aspect of this invention comprises a process for production of a phosphorylated disaccharide by (a) selectively protecting the 6′-hydroxyl substituent of a disaccharide; and b) adding a phosphono side chain to the disaccharide at the 5′-position.

A still further aspect of this invention comprises a process for simultaneously removing all silyl-based protecting groups from a disaccharide having a plurality of silyl-based protecting groups.

Yet another aspect of this invention comprises a process for producing an AGP compound via a simultaneous or sequential one-pot triple acylation step. This aspect also comprises a novel diamino diol intermediate.

Still another aspect of the invention comprises a process for producing (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoic acids.

Other aspects of this invention include other novel processes and novel intermediates, and/or will be apparent from the description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions: as used herein:

“Glycoside” refers to a tetrahydropyran ring bearing a substituent at the 1-position (i.e., at one of the carbon atoms adjacent to the oxygen atom in the ring) that is a hydroxy, optionally substituted alkoxy, or trisubstituted silyloxy group. Glycosides may also contain substituents at other positions, typically protected or unprotected hydroxy or amino groups.

“Silyl glycoside” refers to a glycoside wherein the group attached at the 1-position is a trisubstituted silyloxy group such as a trimethylsilyloxy, tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy, or tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy group. The silyl component of this group has the formula R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si, wherein R_(a), R_(b), and R_(b) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, and optionally substituted phenyl. Preferably one of the R_(a), R_(b), and R_(c) groups is larger than methyl; relatively hindered groups such as t-butyl, phenyl, and isopropyl are preferred. Included among the silyl components are aryldialkylsilyl, diarylalkylsilyl, and triarylsilyl groups. Typical examples include triisopropylsilyl, triphenylsilyl, t-butyldimethysilyl (TBS), and t-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) groups. The silyl component of the silyl glycoside is most preferably a TBS or TBDPS group.

The silyl glycoside can generally be represented by the formula (II)

wherein R₂₀ is a trisubstituted silyl group, preferably TBS or TBDPS, and W, X, Y, and Z independently represent H, optionally protected hydroxy, optionally protected amino, or optionally substituted alkyl groups. Typically, Z represents an optionally protected hydroxymethyl group.

“Dihalomethyl alkyl ether” refers to a compound bearing an alkoxy group and two halogen atoms on a single carbon atom. Typical examples include dichloromethyl methyl ether (CHCl₂OCH₃), dichloromethyl ethyl ether (CHCl₂OC₂H₅), dibromomethyl methyl ether (CHBr₂OCH₃), 1,1-dichloroethyl ethyl ether (CH₃CCl₂OC₂H₅), and the like. Dichloromethyl methyl ether is preferred in the processes of this invention.

“Glycosyl halide” refers to a 2-halotetrahydropyran compound, for example, 2-chlorotetrahydropyran or 2-bromotetrahydropyran. The preferred halogens are fluoride, chloride, and bromide, with chloride being most preferred. In addition, the glycosyl halides used in the processes of this invention will have other substituents analogous to those in formula (II) above.

Glycosyl halides are generally represented by formula (III):

wherein W, X, Y and Z are as defined above for formula (II) and A is Cl, Br, or F.

“Aliphatic” means a straight or branched chain, or non-aromatic cyclical, hydrocarbon radical, or combination thereof, which may be fully saturated, or mono- or polyunsaturated and can include di- and multivalent radicals, having the number of carbon atoms designated (i.e. C₁-C₁₀ means one to ten carbon atoms). Examples of saturated acyclic aliphatic groups (also termed “alkyl” groups) include, but are not limited to, groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, homologs and isomers of, for example, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, and the like. An unsaturated aliphatic group is one having one or more double bonds or triple bonds. Examples of unsaturated acyclic aliphatic groups include, but are not limited to, vinyl, 2-propenyl, isopropenyl, crotyl, 2-isopentenyl, 2-(butadienyl), 2,4-pentadienyl, 3-(1,4-pentadienyl), ethynyl, 1- and 3-propynyl, 3-butynyl, and the higher homologs and isomers. Examples of cyclical aliphatic groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl, and the like.

Divalent aliphatic groups include saturated and unsaturated groups similar to those mentioned above, for example methylene, —CH₂—; ethylene, —CH₂CH₂—; n-butylene, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂—; and unsaturated groups such as —CH═CH—, —CH═CH—CH₂CH₂— and the like.

The terms “oxyaliphatic”, “aminoaliphatic” and “thioaliphatic” are used in their conventional sense, and refer to aliphatic groups attached to the remainder of the molecule via an oxygen atom, an amino group, or a sulfur atom, respectively. “Alkoxy”, “thioalkoxy” and “aminoalkyl” refer to such groups containing saturated acyclic aliphatic moieties.

The term “heteroaliphatic,” by itself or in combination with another term, means, unless otherwise stated, a group analogous to an aliphatic group, i.e. a saturated or unsaturated straight or branched chain, or cyclic, radical, or combinations thereof, consisting of the stated number of carbon atoms and further comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O, N, Si and S, and wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms may optionally be oxidized and the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized. The heteroatom(s) O, N and S and Si may be placed at any interior position of the heteroaliphatic group or at the position at which that group is attached to the remainder of the molecule. Examples include, but are not limited to, —CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—N(CH₃)—CH₃, —CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂, —S(O)—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—S(O)₂—CH₃, —CH═CH—O—CH₃, —Si(CH₃)₃, and —CH₂—CH═N—OCH₃.

Aliphatic groups may be substituted or unsubstituted. Substituents include a variety of groups selected from: —OR′, ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —SR′, -halogen, —SiR′R″R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR′—C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NR—C(NRR′R″)═NR′″, —NR′C(NR′R″)═NR′″, —NR—C(NR′R″)═NR′″, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NRSO₂R′, —CN and —NO₂ in a number ranging from zero to (2m′+1), where m′ is the total number of carbon atoms in such radical. R′, R″ and R′″ each independently may be hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, aryl optionally substituted with 1-3 halogens, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted thioalkoxy or optionally substituted aryl-(C₁-C₄)alkyl groups. When a compound of the invention includes more than one R group, for example, each of the R groups is independently selected as are each R′, R″ and R′″ groups when more than one of these groups is present. When R′ and R″ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, they can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring. For example, —NR′R″ is meant to include 1-pyrrolidinyl and 4-morpholinyl.

“Aromatic” or “aryl” refers to the typical substituted or unsubstituted non-aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups of this class, i.e., a polyunsaturated, typically aromatic, hydrocarbon substituent, which can be a single ring or multiple rings (up to three rings) which are fused together or linked covalently, such as phenyl, naphthyl, and the like.

“Arylalkyl” refers to alkyl groups subsisted by one or more aryl groups; for instance, benzyl, phenethyl, triphenylmethyl, and the like.

“Acyl” refers to a group derived from an organic acid by removal of the hydroxy group. Acyl compounds may in general be aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic in nature. “Aliphatic acyl” refers to such groups derived from saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acids, and includes groups such as acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, hexanoyl, decanoyl, dodecanoyl, tetradecanoyl, and the like. In defining acyl groups by their carbon atom content, the reference is to the carbon atom content of the entire group. Thus, acetyl is a C₂ acyl group; propionyl is a C₃ acyl group, tetradecanoyl is a C₁₄ acyl group, etc.

“Alkanoyloxycarbonyl” refers to groups having a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group, or an arylalkyl group such as benzyl, linked through an oxygen atom to a carbonyl group, i.e. a group having the general formula Alk.-OC(O)— in which Alk. stands for an aliphatic or arylalkyl group as defined above.

“Alkanoyloxyacyl” refers to a saturated or unsaturated acyl group substituted at the indicated position by an aliphatic group Al.C(O)O— in which Al. stands for an acyclic saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group. The overall alkanoyloxy group preferably has from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, most preferably from 6 to 14 carbon atoms. The acyl portion of the alkanoyloxyacyl group contains from 6 to 14 carbon atoms. A typical group of this type is the 3-(n-alkanoyloxy)acyl group, where the acyl group is tetradecanoyl and the alkanoyloxy group contains from 2 to 20, preferably from 6 to 14, carbon atoms, inclusive. Similarly “alkanoyl” refers to a group Al.C(O)— wherein Al. is as defined above.

“Protecting group” refers to any of a large number of groups used to replace one or both hydrogens of a reactive group such as a hydroxy, amino or thiol group, so as to block, prevent, or reduce reactivity of the group. Examples of protecting groups (and a listing of commonly used abbreviations for them) can be found in T. W. Greene and P. G. Futs, “Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry” (Wiley), Beaucage and Iyer, Tetrahedron 48:2223 (1992) and Harrison et al., Compendium of Synthetic Organic Methods, vols. 1-8 (Wiley).

Representative amino protecting groups include those that form a carbamate or amide with the nitrogen atom, as well as those groups collectively referred to in the Greene and Futs text as “special —NH protective groups”. Representative examples of amino protecting groups include acetyl (Ac), trifluoroacetyl, benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), tert.-butoxycarbonyl (Boc), allyloxycarbonyl (Aoc), 9-fluorenylmethyloxy-carbonyl (Fmoc), nitro-versatryloxycarbonyl (Nvoc), optionally substituted phthaloyl and the like.

Representative hydroxy protecting groups include those where the hydroxy group is either acylated or alkylated, such as by the formation of ethers or esters using, for instance, acetyl, benzyl, trityl, alkyl, tetrahydropyranyl, allyl and trisubstituted silyl groups.

The choice of a protecting group for a given compound, purpose or set of conditions is within the skill of those in the art, and is done so as to protect, generally or selectively, the reactive group in question under the prevailing conditions (presence of other reactive compounds, pH, temperature, etc.) Protecting groups that may be used in this invention and are mentioned herein include phthaloyl, acetyl (Ac), benzyl (Bn), 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc), t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS or TBDMS), t-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS), and 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformyl (TCBOC) groups. As is known in the art, a certain protecting group or type of group may be more suitable than others for use with a particular compound or in a given situation, and advantage is taken of these suitabilities in developing processes that involve compounds with reactive groups such as hydroxy and/or amino. Thus, as will be seen below, a reaction scheme can be developed for producing or reacting certain compounds in which general or selective protection or deprotection (removal of protecting groups) is carried out at certain points. For instance, in order to selectively react a hydroxy group in a compound that also contains an amino group, or vice versa, the group whose reaction is not desired at this point can be blocked with a protecting group that is not removed under conditions of the reaction (for example, is not base-hydrolyzable if the reaction is to be conducted under basic conditions, while the group to be reacted can be protected by a group that is base-hydrolyzable, so that said group becomes unblocked, and thus reactive, at that time. Similarly as will be seen below, in order to selectively react a group, e.g., a hydroxyl group, located at one position in the molecule, it may be protected with a different protecting group than other hydroxyls in the molecule. As used herein, the designation “PG” refers to protecting groups that form esters, ethers or carbonates with hydroxy groups (i.e., with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group] or that form amides or carbamates with amino groups [i.e. with the nitrogen atom of an amino group. The designation “PG′” is used herein to refer to optionally substituted phthaloyl groups, for example phthaloyl or tetrachlorophthaloyl, and which may be used to protect an amino group, as shown. However, in any event, the selection of particular protecting groups used or illustrated in the processes described herein is not in any way intended to limit the invention.

The Major Products

The major products produced using the processes and intermediates of this invention comprise a group of compounds that include both AGP compounds, which are mono-saccharides, and disaccharides of somewhat analogous structure. In general, the products can be depicted by the formulas (I) and (Ia-c):

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof, wherein Y is —O— or —NH—; R¹ and R² are each independently selected from saturated and unsaturated (C₂-C₂₄) aliphatic acyl groups; R⁸ is —H or —PO₃R¹¹R¹², wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently —H or (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R⁹ is —H, —CH3 or —PO₃R¹³R¹⁴, wherein R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently selected from —H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; and wherein at least one of R⁸ and R⁹ is a phosphorus-containing group, but R⁸ and R⁹ are not both phosphorus-containing groups; and X is a group selected from the formulae:

-   -   wherein the subscripts n, m, p, q, n′, m′, p′ and q′ are each         independently an integer of from 0 to 6, provided that the sum         of p′ and m′ is an integer from 0 to 6; the subscript r is         independently an integer of from 0 to 14 and may be the same or         different; R³, R¹¹, and R¹² are independently saturated or         unsaturated aliphatic (C₂-C₂₄) acyl groups; and when X is         formula (Ia) or (Ic) one of R¹, R², R³, R¹¹ and R¹² is         optionally hydrogen; R⁴ and R⁵ are independently selected from H         and methyl; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from H, OH,         (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃H₂, —OPO₃H₂, —SO₃H, —OSO₃H,         —NR¹⁵R¹⁶, —SR¹⁵, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁵, —CONR¹⁵R¹⁶,         —PO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —OPO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —SO₃R¹⁵ and —OSO₃R¹⁵, wherein R¹⁵ and         R¹⁶ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic         groups; R¹⁰ is selected from H, CH₃, —PO₃H₂,         ω-phosphonooxy(C₂-C₂₄)alkyl, and ω-carboxy(C₁-C₂₄)alkyl; R¹³ is         independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups,         —PO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —OPO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —SO₃R¹⁷, —OSO₃R¹⁷, —NR¹⁷R¹⁸, —SR¹⁷,         —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁷, and —CONR¹⁷R¹⁸, wherein R¹⁷ and R¹⁸         are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic         groups; and Z is —O— or —S—.         The Processes and Intermediates

One process of this invention comprises the production of glycosyl halides that comprises reacting an O-silyl glycoside with a dihalomethyl alkyl ether in the presence of zinc chloride, zinc bromide, boron trifluoride, or a similar Lewis acid. More specifically, in this process, a glycosyl halide is formed by reacting a silyl glycoside having the formula (II):

wherein R₂₀ is a trisubstituted silyl group having the formula R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si in which R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and optionally substituted phenyl, preferably TBS or TBDPS, and W, X, Y, and Z independently represent H, optionally protected hydroxy, optionally protected amino, and optionally substituted alkyl groups, with a dihalomethyl alkyl ether, preferably dichloromethyl methyl ether, in the presence of zinc chloride, zinc bromide, boron trifluoride, or a similarly suitable Lewis acid. The Lewis acid is used in about a stoichiometric amount with respect to the silyl glycoside. The reaction to produce the glycosyl halide is conducted at a temperature of from about −30° C. to about 50° C., preferably from about 0° C. to about 30° C., and in the presence of a solvent such as chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, or similar solvents that are inert to the conditions required for the reaction. The temperature of the reaction is selected to allow the reactants to substantially dissolve and to prevent the dihalomethyl alkyl ether from boiling away. Yields of the desired product glycosyl halide are generally from about 50 to about 95%. Selection of such solvents is within the knowledge of those of ordinary skill in the art. The silyl glycosides are produced conventionally, typically in a protected form, as is known in the art. However, certain silyl glycosides, such as certain triacetylated silyl glycosides and derivatives thereof, may be produced via novel intermediates described below, which form an aspect of the invention.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that the glycosyl halides may exist as isomers if other substituents are present on the glycosyl halide ring. The invention includes production of the separate isomers as well as mixtures of both isomers. Conditions for reactions of many nucleophiles with glycosyl halides are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

The resulting glycosyl halides thus typically have the formula (III)

-   -   wherein A is Cl, Br, or F and W, X, Y and Z are as defined         above.

In one preferred embodiment, the silyl glycoside and resulting products are substituted at the 3-position (substituent X) by an aliphatic acyl group, preferably an alkanoyloxyacyl group, more preferably a 3-n-alkanoyloxyacyl group, and most preferably a 3-alkanoyloxytetradecanoyl group, in which the aliphatic or alkanoyl group contains from 2 to 24, preferably from 2 to 18, and most preferably from 6 to 14, carbon atoms, and the protecting groups in the compound in question are preferably Troc groups or similar alkanoyloxycarbonyl groups. In such embodiments the compounds have the general formula (IV) or (V):

-   -   wherein A is Cl, Br, or F; R₂₀ is a trisubstituted silyl group         and R₂₁ is an aliphatic acyl group, preferably a         3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoyl group. Note that in this formula         and those that follow, protecting groups have been specifically         identified for purposes of illustration and/or clarity. However,         as known in the art, other protecting groups as defined         generally above for “PG” may be used, as suitable. Thus, for         instance, more generally these compounds can be represented by         the formula     -   where PG represents protecting groups that form an ether, ester         or carbonate with the oxygen atom or that form an amide or         carbamate with the nitrogen atom, respectively.

In another preferred embodiment, the silyl glycoside has a hydroxyl group at the 4-position substituted with a phosphate ester group such as a dialkylphosphonyl or diarylphosphonyl group, R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group, preferably a 3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoyl group, and the protecting groups are preferably “TCBOC” groups, obtained from 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformate, or similar alkanoyloxycarbonyl protecting groups such as Troc; i.e., the silyl glycoside may have the specific formula (VI):

-   -   wherein R₂₀ is a trisubstituted silyl group, preferably TBS or         TBDPS; R₂₁ is an aliphatic acyl, preferably an alkanoyloxyacyl,         group; and R₂₂ is alkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl, or may have a more         general formula which allows for the use of other suitable         protecting groups,     -   and the glycosyl halide correspondingly has the more specific         formula (VII):     -   wherein R₂₁ and R₂₂ are as defined above and A is Cl, Br, or F.

In one aspect of the invention the glycosyl chlorides thus produced are reacted with a monosaccharide, preferably in the presence of a silver salt, to produce a disaccharide by this two-step process. Monosaccharides that may be used as reactants in this process include, for example, those having the formulas (i)-(iii):

-   -   wherein R₂₃ is an aliphatic acyl group, preferably a         3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoyl group, as described above.

Disaccharides that can be produced by such processes include those having the formulas (iA)-(ivA):

-   -   wherein R₂₁, R₂₂ and R₂₃ are as defined above, and the indicated         protecting groups are exemplary of those that may be used.

Reactions to produce products (iA)-(ivA) according to this invention are generally conducted at a temperature of from about −30° C. to about 30° C., in a chlorinated or other solvent in the presence of a silver catalyst such as silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) and under anhydrous conditions, with or without other additives such as molecular sieves or buffering agents such as tetramethylurea.

In another aspect of the invention the silyl glycosides of Formula (II) are coupled with a monosaccharide directly, without proceeding through formation of a glycosyl halide. The resulting product is again a disaccharide having substituents according to the starting materials. Such a process is generally conducted at a temperature of from about −78° C. to about 50° C. in the presence of a suitable Lewis acid catalyst such as trimethylsilyl triflate of boron trifluoride etherate with or without the addition of drying or buffering agents. In another aspect of this invention protecting groups can in effect be removed from a silyl glycoside having such groups by reacting it with a dihaloalkyl ether to produce the glycosyl halide, and then reacting the glycosyl halide with a silver salt such as silver oxide or silver carbonate in the presence of water to produce the corresponding hemiacetal.

The disaccharides produced by either process may be further reacted by silylating the hydroxyl group at the 4-position of the reducing sugar with a silylating group such as TBS in the presence of imidazole and N,N-dimethylformamide to produce a 3,4-bis-silylated compound. Addition of a phosphate group in the 4-position of the non-reducing sugar is then achieved by a sequence of steps involving (1) deprotection of the 4,6 protecting groups (typically acetate or Troc), (2) N-deprotection/acylation, (3) selective protection of the primary 6-position with a group such as TCBOC, and (4) by reacting the 6-protected disaccharide with a phosphonylating agent such as a phosphoramidite reagent, e.g., dibenzyl diisopropylphosphoramidite [providing a dibenzylphosphono side chain], or a chlorophosphate such as bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)chlorophosphate [providing a bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)phosphono side chain] or diphenyl chlorophosphate [providing a diphenylphosphono side chain].

The invention also, analogously, includes processes for the production of triacylated disaccharides such as those having the formula (VIII):

-   -   wherein R₂₁, R₂₃ and R₂₄ are aliphatic acyl, preferably         alkanoyloxyacyl, groups, and R₂₂ is an optionally substituted         alkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl group, by selectively protecting the         C-6 hydroxyl group of a corresponding disaccharide with         2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformate in the presence         of a tertiary amine such as pyridine. Preferably, R₂₁, R₂₃ and         R₂₄ are (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl,         (R)-3-octadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, and         (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, respectively, but they can         be the same or different depending on the desired substitutions         and nature of the monosaccharide donor used in the glycosylation         step.

This invention also relates to processes for producing aminoalkyl and cyclic aminoalkyl glucosaminide (AGP) compounds, that is compounds of formula (I) in which X is (Ia) or (Ic), in which both the fatty acid and the phosphate groups are introduced onto the AGP backbone after the initial glycosylation (coupling) step. These processes involve the use of novel glycoside triol intermediates which can be selectively protected in the sugar 6-position prior to the introduction of the ester- and amide-linked acyloxyacyl residues.

One preferred method of the invention for preparing AGP compounds is shown in Scheme 1 below. Scheme 1 depicts the production of specific compounds of Formula (Ia) but is intended to serve only as an example of this aspect of the invention, as the same or a similar process could be used to produce other compounds of the type of Formula (Ia) as well as compounds of Formula (Ic).

In this process introduction of the aliphatic acyl, e.g. (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxy-tetradecanoyl, and phosphate groups into the glucosamine and aglycon units is also performed subsequent to the coupling reaction but, in contrast to the method shown in the prior art patents, the 3-hydroxyl group is selectively esterified with an alkanoic acid substituted by an aliphatic acyl group, preferably an (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxyalkanoic acid, in the presence of an unprotected/unphosphorylated 4-hydroxyl group with the 6-position blocked. This is achieved by protecting the 6-hydroxyl group of the sugar unit with a persistent protecting group in lieu of temporary protection of the 4,6-hydroxyl positions with an acetonide. Preferably, β-glycoside 8 or the corresponding bis-Troc derivative 9, is de-O-acetylated with a suitable base to give a triol intermediate 10, which is selectively protected on the 6-position with a hindered silyl group such as t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) under standard conditions known in the art to give silyl-protected intermediate 12. The triol intermediate 10 is a novel compound. 3-O-Acylation of 12 with (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoic acid, for instance, followed by deprotection/acylation of the sugar and aglycon amino groups, simultaneously (PG=Troc) or sequentially (PG=Aoc), using either zinc (PG=Troc) or zinc and Pd(0) (PG=Aoc) in the deprotection step and (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoic acid in the acylation step, provides hexaacylated intermediate 13. Pentaacylated compounds, i.e. in which one of the acyl groups R¹, R², R³, R¹¹ or R¹² is hydrogen, can be prepared by utilizing different protecting groups for the two amino groups so that one or the other can be selectively acylated; for instance, using an Aoc group for one and a Troc group for the other.

Phosphorylation of the 4-hydroxyl group is carried out by methods known in the art using preferably either a dibenzyl or di-t-butyl protected chlorophosphate or phosphoramidite reagent to give the phosphotriester 14. The phosphate, silyl and any remaining protecting groups in 14 are then cleaved under mildly acidic conditions or by other appropriate means to give compounds of Formula (Ia). It is important to note that the order in which the phosphate and N-linked (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoyl groups in 14 are introduced can be reversed by the appropriate selection of orthogonal phosphate and amine protecting groups.

A variant of the method shown in Scheme 1 is shown in Scheme 2 and involves the incorporation of the three acyl residues, preferably an (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxyalkanoic acid or (R)-3-n-alkyloxyalkanoic acid 4, in a one-pot reaction, either sequentially or simultaneously, onto a diamino diol intermediate 18a. This is achieved by employing a commercially or readily available glycosyl donor such as 15 possessing an N-acetyl, N-phthaloyl (phthalimide, Phth), N-alkoxycarbonyl (carbamate), or other suitable nitrogen protecting group and an anomeric acetoxy, halide group, or other suitable activating group. Again, Scheme 2 is representative of processes of the invention for producing compounds of Formula (Ia) or (Ic).

In Scheme 2, glycosyl donor 15 is coupled with a similarly N-protected acceptor unit 16 in the presence of a catalyst to give β-glycoside 17. As in Scheme 1, a hydroxyl protecting group that is orthogonal to the nitrogen protecting groups is used for protection of the 6-position. For example, when N-acetyl and other N-protecting groups removed under basic conditions are employed, the use of a base-stable ether-type protecting group such as triphenylmethyl (trityl, Tr) on the 6-position is generally required. Alternatively, when carbamate or phthalimide protection of the nitrogen groups is employed, other hydroxyl protecting groups can be used in the 6-position in addition to the trityl group. For example, one preferred embodiment of this invention involves the use of N-carbobenzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), N-allyloxycarbonyl (Aoc), or N-phthaloyl (Phth) for nitrogen protection and a hindered silyl group such at t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) or t-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) for 6-hydroxyl protection. Although 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc) protection of the nitrogen groups can also be employed as in Scheme 1, Troc deprotection under standard conditions with zinc leads to the formation of complexed zinc which is difficult to remove, leading to low yields of intermediate 18a. Thus, N-protecting groups such as Cbz or Aoc that can be removed under essentially neutral conditions, with or without an intermediate aqueous extraction step, or groups such as N-phthaloyl (phthalimide) or N-acetyl (acetamide) that can be removed in the presence of a resin-bound diamine (phthalimide deprotection) or with an aqueous base such as barium hydroxide that is readily removed by filtration after conversion to an insoluble salt (acetamide deprotection) are preferred. Accordingly, de-O-acetylation of 17 under standard conditions followed by selective protection of the 6-position as a trityl or hindered silyl ether or other suitable hydroxyl protecting group gives diol 18. Removal of the nitrogen protecting groups by appropriate means provides diamino diol intermediate 18a. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the diamino diol 18a has the following structural formula:

-   -   where PG₂ is a protecting group as defined above, preferably TBS         or trityl.

Simultaneous or sequential N- and O-acylation of 18a with (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxy- or (R)-3-n-alkyloxy-alkanoic acid 4 in the presence of a suitable catalyst affords the hexaacylated derivative 19. Phosphorylation of 19 with a chlorophosphate or phosphoramidite reagent as in Scheme 1 gives phosphate 20. Deprotection of the phosphate, 6-protecting group PG₂, and any remaining protecting groups under mildly acidic conditions or by other appropriate means provides compounds of Formula (Ia) or (Ic).

In the above Schemes 1 and 2 the various groups R₁-R₇, n, p and q are as defined above.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a novel method for producing the (R)-3-n-alkanoyloxytetradecanoic acids used in the foregoing processes.

The prior art (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,347, Example 1) has reported the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-3-alkanoyloxytetradecanoic acids 6 via Ru(II)-Binap-catalyzed hydrogenation of keto ester 3 in the key step using commercially available Noyori-type catalysts and subsequent e.e. enhancement by recrystallization of the dicyclohexylammonium salt of 4. However, reproducibility problems with commercially available catalysts were encountered, as well as difficulties in removing the DCHA-HBr by-product in scale-up preparations of PAc ester 5. There thus is a need for alternate methods for the synthesis of 5 and enhancement of its enantiopurity.

According to an aspect of this invention, an in situ-Ru(II) asymmetric hydrogenation method [Madec et al., Tetrahedron 2001, 57:2563] was applied to keto ester 3 using anhydrous RuCl₃/(R)-Binap, and gave (R)-3-hdyroxytetradecanoic acid (4) in ca. 100% crude yield and 94-99% e.e. (HPLC analysis of 5 using Chiralpack® AS column) on up to a 200-g scale. Direct conversion of crude hydroxy acid 4 to scalemic PAc ester 5 and crystallization of the ester from tolulene gave 5 in >99.8% e.e. and 64% overall yield from keto ester 3. Compound 5 was converted to acyloxyacids 6a and 6b by O-acylation and reductive deprotection in 91 and 88% yield, respectively.

The invention is further illustrated by the examples that follow. These examples are presented solely as illustrative of the invention and do not in any way limit its definition or scope.

EXAMPLE 1 Production of 2-Deoxy-4-O-diphenylphosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-6-O-(2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-α-D-glucopyranosyl Chloride

This process is depicted in scheme A, below, and includes novel intermediates (iv), (vi) and (vii), which comprise aspects of this invention.

(a) Production of t-Butyldiphenylsilyl 2-Deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-α-D-glucopyranoside (Scheme A, Compound vi)

(1) 2,2,2-Trichloroethoxycarbonyl chloride (200 g, 0.944 mol) is added portionwise to a solution of D-glucosamine hydrochloride (v, 200 g, 0.927 mol) and NaHCO₃ (200 g, 2.4 mol) in water (4 L) in a 10 L 3-neck round-bottom flask and the resulting mixture is mechanically stirred overnight at room temperature. The white precipitate that forms is collected by filtration using a 2 L fritted funnel, washed with ether (2 L), and dried at high vacuum for 3 hours to give 297 g (90%) of 2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-D-glucose as a white solid (MW 354.57).

(2) A solution of 2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-D-glucose (297 g, 0.838 mol) obtained in (1) above in a mixture of pyridine (1 L, 12.4 mol) and acetic anhydride (1 L, 10.6 mol) in a 10 L round-bottom flask is mechanically stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture is concentrated under reduced pressure to give an oil which is azeotroped with toluene (2×1 L) and dried at high vacuum overnight to give 438 g (˜100%; 90% from v) of the tetraacetate as a syrup (MW 522.71, TLC (EtOAc) Rf 0.75).

(3) The tetraacetate obtained in (2) above (438 g, 0.838 mol) is dissolved in EtOAc (4 L) and transferred to a 10 L 3-neck round-bottom flask, treated with morpholine (200 mL, 2.29 mol), and mechanically stirred for 8 hours at room temperature. Reaction completion determined by TLC (50% EtOAc/hexanes). 3 N aq HCl (2 L) is added and the resulting mixture is stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture is transferred to a 6 L separatory funnel and the layers are separated. The organic phase is washed with saturated aq NaCl (1 L), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated to give 373 g (93%, 84% from v) of the 1-O-deprotected derivative (hemiacetal) as a white foam (MW 480.67; TLC (50% EtOAc/hexanes) Rf 0.22).

(4) A solution of hemiacetal obtained in (3) above (373 g, 0.776 mol) and imidazole (132 g, 1.94 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF, 430 mL, 1.8 M) is treated with t-butylchlorodiphenylsilane (242 mL, 0.931 mol), and stirred for 48 hours at room temperature. Reaction completion is confirmed by TLC (50% EtOAc/hexanes). The reaction mixture is partitioned between ethyl ether (4 L) and water (1 L) in a 6 L separatory funnel and the layers separated. The ether layer is washed with water (1 L), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated to give a bronze-colored oil which is crystallized from EtOAc-hexanes (˜1:2 v/v) in three crops to provide 474 g (85%, 71% from v) of the t-butyldiphenylsilyl glycoside iv as a white solid (MW 719.08; TLC (50% EtOAc/hexanes) Rf 0.44).

(5) A solution of the silyl glycoside obtained in (4) above (474 g, 0.659 mol) in MeOH (2 L) in a 3 L 3-neck round-bottom flask is treated with ammonium hydroxide (300 mL, 4.5 mol) (some precipitation occurs) and stirred at room temperature overnight, and then treated with a second portion of ammonium hydroxide (50 mL, 0.75 mol) and again stirred overnight. Reaction completion is determined by TLC (EtOAc). The reaction mixture is concentrated and the resulting residue is dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL), placed on a pad of silica gel (1 kg) in a 3 L fritted glass funnel, and eluted with 50% EtOAc-hexanes (5 L) and EtOAc (7 L). The fractions containing the product are concentrated in a 3 L round-bottom flask to give 329 g (84%, 60% from v) of the triol (MW 592.97, TLC (EtOAc) Rf 0.35).

(6) A slurry of the triol obtained in (5) above (329 g, 0.555 mol) in 2,2-dimethoxypropane (1.5 L) in a 3 L round-bottom flask is treated with camphorsulfonic acid (6.4 g, 0.028 mol) and magnetically stirred at room temperature overnight, giving a light yellow solution. Solid NaHCO₃ (4.6 g, 0.055 mol) is added and the resulting mixture is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature and then concentrated to dryness. The crude product obtained is dissolved in dichloromethane (1.2 L), divided into two equal portions, and placed on silica gel (1 kg, pre-wetted with 30% EtOAc/hexanes) in two separate 3 L fritted glass funnels, and eluted with 30% EtOAc/hexanes (10 L) and 50% EtOAc/hexanes (8 L). Fractions containing purified product are combined and concentrated to give compound vi as an amorphous solid. The product can be further purified by crystallization from hexanes, if necessary. Molecular Formula: C₂₈H₃₆Cl₃NO₇Si Molecular Weight: 633.04 Theoretical Yield: 587 g (based on v) Expected Yield: 306 g (87%, 52% from v) TLC: Rf 0.60 (EtOAc)

(b) Production of t-Butyldiphenylsilyl 2-Deoxy-4-O-diphenylphosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-6-O-(2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-α-D-glucopyranoside (Scheme A, Compound vii)

(1) A solution of compound vi (141 g, 0.223 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1 L) in a 2 L round-bottom flask is treated with 3-(R)-tetradecanoyloxy)tetradecanoic acid (101.7 g, 0.224 mol), DCC (55 g, as a melt, 0.267 mol) and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (3.3 g, 0.022 mol), and stirred at room temperature overnight. Reaction completion is determined by TLC (20% EtOAc/hexanes). The reaction mixture is filtered, concentrated to ca. one-half volume, divided into two equal portions, and placed on silica gel (1 kg, pre-wetted with 2.5% EtOAc/hexanes) in two separate 3 L fritted glass funnels. Gradient elution with 2.5%, 5%, and 10% EtOAc/hexanes (8 L each) and concentration of the fractions containing the product in a 3 L round-bottom flask gives 220 g (92%) of the ester (MW 1069.72, TLC (20% EtOAc/hexanes) Rf 0.53).

(2) The ester obtained in (1) above (218 g, 0.204 mol) is suspended in 90% aq AcOH (1 L) in a 3 L round-bottom flask and stirred (on rotary evaporator) at 70° C. for 2.5 hours, giving a milky solution. Reaction completion is determined by TLC (20% EtOAc/hexanes). The reaction mixture is concentrated and residual AcOH is removed azeotropically with toluene (2×500 mL). The crude product obtained is dissolved in 10% EtOAc/hexanes (400 mL), divided into two equal portions, and placed on silica gel (1 kg) in two separate 3 L fritted glass funnels. Gradient elution with 10% EtOAc/hexanes (10 L) and 15%, 20%, and 30% EtOAc/hexanes (5 L each) and concentration of the fractions containing the product gives 193 g (92%, 85% from vi) of the diol (MW 1029.66, TLC (20% EtOAc) Rf 0.10) containing a small amount (<5% by TLC) of 6-O-acetyl by-product (Rf 0.25). (Note: The 6-acetate by-product is readily separated by radial compression chromatography as the 4-diphenylphosphate derivative in step (3) below.)

(3) A magnetically stirred solution of the diol obtained in (2) above (193 g, 0.187 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1 L) at 0° C. is treated with pyridine (18.2 mL, 0.225 mol) followed by 1,1-dimethyl-2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate (49.5 g, 0.206 mol). Progress of the reaction is monitored by TLC (20% EtOAc/hexanes). Once the reaction is completed by TLC (typically 30-60 minutes, but longer reaction times may be required), triethylamine (55 mL, 0.39 mol), 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (13.9 g, 0.094 mol), and diphenyl chlorophosphate (58.2 mL, 0.281 mol), are added sequentially and the resulting mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight. Reaction completion is determined by TLC (20% EtOAc/hexanes). The reaction mixture is concentrated to dryness and the residue obtained is partitioned between EtOAc (1.5 L) and 1.2 N aq HCl (2 L) in a 6 L separatory funnel and the layers separated. The EtOAc layer is washed with water (2 L), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated. The residue obtained is dissolved in 10% EtOAc/hexanes (500 mL) and purified by gradient elution on a Biotage 150 Hi system (150 L column) with 10% EtOAc/hexanes (50 L), collecting 950 mL fractions. The fractions containing compound vii are combined and concentrated. Molecular Formula: C₇₀H₉₈Cl₆NO₁₅Psi Molecular Weight: 1465.30 Theoretical Yield: 326.8 g (based on vi) Expected Yield:   211 g (77%, 65% from vi) TLC: Rf 0.47 (20% EtOAc/hexanes)

(c) Production of 2-Deoxy-4-O-diphenylphosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxy-tetradecanoyl]-6-O-(2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-α-D-glucopyranosyl Chloride (Scheme A, Compound viii)

A solution of compound vii (192 g, 0.131 mol) in CHCl₃ (2 L) at 0° C. in a 5 L round-bottom flask is treated with α,α-dichloromethyl methyl ether (78 mL, 0.87 mol), followed by ZnCl₂ (1.0 M in ether, 100 mL, 0.1 mol) dropwise via an addition funnel. The cold bath is removed and the resulting mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight. Reaction completion is determined by TLC (20% EtOAc/hexanes). The reaction mixture is treated with cold saturated aq NaHCO₃ (1 L), stirred for 1 hour, and the layers are separated in a 6 L separatory funnel. The organic layer is dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated. The residue obtained is purified on a Biotage 150 Hi system (150 L column) eluting with 10% EtOAc/hexanes (80 L, 950 mL fractions). The fractions containing pure product are combined and concentrated. Molecular Formula: C₅₄H₇₉Cl₇NO₁₄P Molecular Weight: 1245.36 Theoretical Yield: 163.2 g Expected Yield:   141 g (86%) TLC: Rf 0.42 (20% EtOAc/hexanes)

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of (N-[R)-3-Decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-O-[2-deoxy-4-O-phosphono-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-3-O[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine Triethylammonium Salt [A Compound of Formula (Ia) in which R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₉H₁₉CO, Z=Y=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=R₉=H, R₆=CO₂H, R₈=PO₃H₂)], Namely

This example utilizes a process as shown in Scheme 1.

(1) A solution of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxy-carbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside (5.33 g, 10.2 mmol) and benzyl N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl)-L-serine (4.16 g, 11.2 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (15 mL) was treated dropwise with boron trifluoride etherate (2.59 mL, 20.4 mmol) and then stirred at room temperature for 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated aq. NaHCO₃ (20 mL) and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with CHCl₃ (2×10 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with H₂O (10 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography on silica gel (gradient elution, 20450% AcOEt/hexanes) afforded 7.42 g (87%) of N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl)-O-[3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino).-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine benzyl ester as a white solid (compound 9; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CO₂Bn).

(2) A solution of the compound prepared in (1) above (408 mg, 0.49 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (THF; 20 mL) was hydrogenated in the presence of 10% palladium on carbon (30 mg) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure for 3 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography on silica gel with 2% MeOH—CHCl₃ followed by 10% MeOH—CHCl₃ afforded 347 mg (98%) of N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl)-O-[3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino).-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine as a white solid. (compound 9; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CO₂H).

(3) A solution of the compound prepared in (2) above (998 mg, 1.34 mmol) in methanol (15.5 mL) was treated with ammonium hydroxide (0.21 mL, 5.37 mmol) at room temperature for 16 h, followed by additional ammonium hydroxide (0.21 mL, 5.37 mmol) for 24 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and to give a white solid. A suspension of the white solid in CH₂Cl₂ (33.5 mL) was treated with benzyl bromide (0.80 mL, 6.7 mmol), tetrabutylammonium bromide (432 mg, 1.34 mmol) and saturated NaHCO₃ (33.5 mL) and the resulting biphasic mixture was stirred vigorously at room temperature for 24 h and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with CHCl₃ (2×15 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with H₂O (10 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was dissolved in anhydrous pyridine (10 mL), treated with t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (242 mg, 1.61 mmol), and stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. The reaction mixture was treated with additional t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (242 mg, 1.61 mmol) and stirred 1.5 h. The reaction mixture was partitioned between CHCl₃ (10 mL) and H₂O (10 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with CHCl₃ (2×15 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with H₂O (15 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography on silica gel using gradient elution (1.0→1.25% CH₃OH/CHCl₃) afforded 724 mg (66%) of N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl)-O-[6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino).-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine benzyl ester as a white solid. (compound 12 PG=Troc, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CO₂H).

(4) A solution of the compound prepared in (3) above (892 mg, 1.09 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (10.5 mL) was treated with (R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (476 mg, 1.20 mmol), 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide methiodide (EDC-MeI; 355 mg, 1.20 mmol), and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (8 mg, 0.054 mmol) at 0° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was treated with additional (R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (60 mg) and EDC.MeI (60 mg) at 0° C., stirred 30 min, and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography on silica gel with 1:6 AcOEt-hexanes afforded 1.10 g (85%) of N-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxy-carbonyl)-O-[6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino).-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine benzyl ester as a colorless oil.

(5) A solution of the compound prepared in (4) above (1.162 g, 0.967 mmol) in 20% aq. THF (16 mL) was treated with zinc dust (632 mg, 9.67 mmol) and acetic acid (0.12 mL, 2.13 mmol) and stirred for 1 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The resulting off-white solid was dissolved in CHCl₃ (15 mL) and washed successively with 15 mL portions of 0.1M HCl, saturated aq NaHCO₃, and H₂O. The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue was dried overnight under high vacuum. A solution of the residue in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (9.5 mL) was treated with (R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (848 mg, 2.13 mmol) and EDC.MeI (632 mg, 2.13 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 2 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (gradient elution; 20→25% AcOEt/hexanes) to give 1.03 g (66%) of N-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-O-[6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine benzyl ester as a glassy solid. (compound 13 R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₉H₁₉CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CO₂Bn).

(6) A solution of the compound prepared in (5) above (112 mg, 0.069 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (1 mL) under argon was treated with dibenzyl diisopropyl phosphoramidite (39 μL, 0.12 mmol) and tetrazole (12 mg, 0.173 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. and treated with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA; 33 mg, 0193 mmol) for 30 min. The reaction mixture was quenched by addition of saturated aq NaHCO₃ (5 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 15 min. The aqueous layer was extracted with chloroform (3×5 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with water (5 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography with 25% AcOEt-hexanes gave partially purified product which was rechromatographed on silica gel with 20% AcOEt-hexanes to give 122 mg (93%) of N-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-O-[6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-4-O-diphenylphosphono-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine benzyl ester as a colorless oil.

(7) A solution of the compound prepared in (6) above (232 mg, 0.124 mmol) in anhydrous THF (10 mL) was hydrogenated in the presence of 20% palladium hydroxide on carbon (46 mg) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure for 36 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum. The resulting oil (181 mg) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (2.5 mL) and treated with trifluoroacetic acid (29 μL) and stirred under argon at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and co-evaporated with hexanes (2×5 mL). Flash chromatography on silica gel with chloroform-methanol-water-triethylamine (gradient elution; 87:12:0.5:0.5→77:22.5:0.5:0.5) afforded 102 mg (55%) of N-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-O-[2-deoxy-4-O-phosphono-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-L-serine triethylammonium salt (RC-527) as a colorless solid.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of (S)-2-[(R)-3-Hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-3-phosphonooxypropyl 2-Deoxy-4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside Bis(triethyl)ammonium Salt [A Compound of Formula (I) in which X is (Ia), Namely R=R₂=R₃=n-C₅H₁₁CO, Z=Y=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=R₉=H, R₆=CH₂OPO₃H₂, R₈=PO₃H₂], Namely

This example utilizes a process as shown in Scheme 1.

(1) In the same manner as described in Example 2-(3), 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside (0.62 g, 1.18 mmol) and (S)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-3-benzyloxy-1-propanol (0.46 g, 1.30 mmol) were coupled in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate (0.3 mL, 2.4 mmol) to give (R)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-3-benzyloxy-1-propyl 2-deoxy-3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a light yellow solid. (compound 9; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CH₂Obn). A solution of this compound in methanol (15 mL) was treated with ammonium hydroxide (0.21 mL, 5.37 mmol) at room temperature for 19 h, followed by additional ammonium hydroxide (0.20 mL, 5.1 mmol) for 25 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and to give a white solid. Flash chromatography on silica gel (gradient elution 546% CH₃OH/CHCl₃) afforded 0.57 g (63%) of 3-benzyloxy-(R)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)propyl 2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a glassy solid.

(2) A solution of the compound prepared in (2) above (0.57 g, 0.83 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (8.5 mL) was treated with t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (0.15 g, 0.99 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. Additional t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (0.15 g, 0.99 mmol) was added and after another 1.5 h the reaction mixture was partitioned between CHCl₃ (10 mL) and H₂O (10 mL) and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted CHCl₃ (2×10 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with H₂O (10 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography on silica gel (gradient elution; 80:1→60:1 CHCl₃/CH₃OH) afforded 0.65 g (98%) of 3-benzyloxy-(R)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)propyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid.

(3) In the same manner as described in Example 2-(4), the compound prepared in (2) above (0.47 g, 0.59 mmol) was acylated with (R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (0.22 g, 0.64 mmol) in the presence of EDC-MeI (0.21 g, 0.70 mmol) and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (4 mg, 0.03 mmol) to afford 0.58 g (88%) of 3-benzyloxy-(R)-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxy-carbonylamino)propyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a colorless oil.

(4) In the same manner as described in Example 2-(5), the compound prepared in (3) above (0.58 g, 0.51 mmol) was deprotected with zinc (0.34 g, 5.14 mmol) and acylated with ®-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (0.39 g, 1.13 mmol) in the presence of EDC.MeI (0.34 g, 1.13 mmol) to afford 0.41 g (56%) of 3-benzyloxy-(R)-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]propyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as a colorless oil (compound 13 R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₅H₁₁CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CH₂Obn).

(5) A solution of the compound prepared in (4) above (0.41 g, 0.29 mmol) in THF (18 mL) was hydrogenated in the presence of palladium hydroxide (0.04 g) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure for 17 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite, and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography on silica gel (gradient elution; 1:2→1:8 ethyl acetate/heptane) provided 0.3 g (77%) of 3-hydroxy-(R)-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]propyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as a colorless oil (compound 13 R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₅H₁₁CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₇=H, R₆=CH₂OH).

(6) In the same manner as described in Example 2-(6), the compound prepared in (5) above (0.30 g, 0.22 mmol) was phosphorylated with dibenzyl diisopropylphosphoramidite (0.25 mL, 0.75 mmol), tetrazole (0.08 g, 1.11 mmol), and m-CPBA (0.33 g, 1.95 mmol) to give 0.30 g (73%) of 3-dibenzylphosphonooxy-(R)-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxy-tetradecanoylamino]propyl 4-dibenzylphosphono-6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as a colorless oil.

(7) A solution of the compound prepared in (6) above (302 mg, 0.16 mmol) in anhydrous THF (13 mL) was hydrogenated in the presence of 20% palladium hydroxide on carbon (60 mg) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure for 27 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. A solution of the resulting oil (226 mg) in CH₂Cl₂ (3.5 mL) was treated with trifluoroacetic acid (0.04 mL, 0.49 mmol) and stirred under argon at room temperature for 16 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and co-evaporated with hexanes (2×5 mL), and the resulting residue dried under high vacuum to give crude product (226 mg). A portion of the crude product (102 mg) was dissolved in 1:2 CHCl₃/CH₃OH (9 mL), loaded onto a DEAE-cellulose column (15 g, fast flow, Sigma), and eluted with 2:3:1 CHCl₃:CH₃OH:H₂O using a 0 to 0.1 M NH₄Oac salt gradient. The fractions containing purified product were combined, washed with 0.1 N aq HCl, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was lyophilized from 1% aq triethylamine (pyrogen free) to give 82 mg (81%) (S)-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-3-phosphonooxypropyl 2-deoxy-4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-[(R)-3-hexanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside bis(triethyl)ammonium salt as a white powder: positive FAB-MS calcd for [M+Na]⁺ 1407.8534, found 1407.8689; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃/CD₃OD): δ (ppm) 5.23-5.16 (m, 4H), 4.67 (d, 1H), 4.38 (dd, 1H), 4.19-3.83 (m, 7H), 3.49 (m, 2H), 3.06 (m, 12H), 2.64-2.23 (m, 12H), 1.58-1.56 (m, 12H), 1.23 (m, 94H), 0.88-0.87 (m, 18H). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃/CD₃OD): δ (ppm) 173.7, 173.3, 173.2, 170.3, 170.1, 100.0, 74.6, 74.0, 70.9, 70.8, 70.3, 66.6, 63.5, 60.4, 54.2, 45.8, 41.1, 40.7, 39.3, 34.4, 34.3, 31.9, 31.3, 29.7, 29.4, 25.3, 24.7, 22.7, 22.3, 14.1, 13.9, 8.5.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside Triethylammonium Salt [A Compound of Formula (Ia) in which R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₉H₁₉CO, Z=Y=O, n=m=p=g=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=R₉=H, R₈=PO₃H₂)], Namely

This example utilizes a process as shown in Scheme 2.

(1) 1,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside (compound 15, PG=Cbz, Z=Oac; 19.2 g, 39.9 mmol) and benzyl N-(2-hydroxyethyl)carbamate (8.6 gm, 44 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (160 mL, 0.25M), and cooled to −15° C. Trimethylsilyl triflate (0.1 equiv) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature over 5.5 h. The reaction was quenched into saturated NaHCO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous phase was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organic layers were dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated. The crude product obtained was crystallized from CH₂Cl₂/heptane to give 19.9 gm (81%) of 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)ethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 17; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Cbz): mp 129-130° C.

(2) A solution of the compound prepared in (1) above (13.6 g, 22.1 mmol) in methanol (220 mL, 0.1M) was treated with conc. Ammonium hydroxide (20 equiv) and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated and dried under high vacuum overnight to give 11 g (100%) of 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)ethyl 2-deoxy-2-(N-benzyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 17a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Cbz), which was used without further purification in the next step.

(3) A solution of the compound prepared in (2) above (8.4 g, 17.2 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (14 mL, 0.17 mol) at room temperature was treated with TBDMS-Cl (3.1 g, 20.6 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 2 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc. The layers were separated and the organic phase was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated. The resulting oil was crystallized from EtOAc/heptane to give 8.8 gm (85%) of 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)ethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside compound as a white solid (compound 18; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Cbz, PG₂=TBDMS): mp 113-115° C.

(4) A solution of the compound prepared in (3) above (1.15 g, 1.90 mmol) in anhydrous methanol (20 mL) was hydrogenated the presence of 5% Pd/C (10% w/w, 115 mg) at room temperature and atmospheric for 24 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite and the pad rinsed with 2:1 CHCl₃-MeOH (2×10 mL). The filtrate was concentrated and dried overnight under high vacuum to give 0.64 g (100%) of 2-aminoethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-amino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 18a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG₂=TBDMS), which was used without further purification in the next step.

(5) A suspension of the compound prepared in (4) above (0.64 g, 1.90 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) was treated with (R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (1.67 g, 4.19 mmol) and EDC-MeI (1.24 g, 4.19 mmol) and stirred for 3 h at room temperature. The nearly homogeneous reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. and treated sequentially with (R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (0.83 g, 2.09 mmol), EDC.MeI (0.62 g, 2.09 mmol) and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (14 mg, 0.09 mmol) and then stirred at 0° C. under nitrogen for 24 h. The reaction mixture was partitioned between CHCl₃ (20 mL) and H₂O (30 mL), and the layers were separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with CHCl₃ (10 mL) and the combined organic layers were dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated. The residue obtained was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel using EtOAc-heptane (gradient elution; 1:3.5-1:3) to give 1.25 g (44%) of 2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as an amorphous solid (compound 19, PG₂=TBDMS, Scheme 2; R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₉H₁₉CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H).

(6) A solution of the compound prepared in (5) above (1.18 g, 0.80 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (10.8 mL) under nitrogen was treated with dibenzyl diisopropyl phosphoramidite (0.46 mL, 1.36 mmol) and 4,5-dicyanoimidazole (DCI; 236 mg, 2.00 mmol) and stirred for 1 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 0° C., treated with m-CPBA (387 mg, 2.24 mmol) and stirred for 30 min. The reaction mixture was quenched by addition of saturated NaHCO₃ (30 mL) and stirred for 15 min at room temperature. The aqueous layer was extracted with chloroform (2×10 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated. The resulting residue was dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane (17 mL) under nitrogen, treated slowly with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA; 0.62 mL, 8.01 mmol), and then stirred for 1.5 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture concentrated, co-evaporated with heptane (2×10 mL), and dried under high vacuum. Flash chromatography on silica gel with EtOAc-heptane (gradient elution; 1:2-2:1) afforded 0.85 g (65%) of 2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 4-O-dibenzylphosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as an amorphous solid compound 20, PG₂=TBDMS, PG₃=Bn, Scheme 2; R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₉H₁₉CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H).

(7) A solution of the compound prepared in (6) above (0.80 g, 0.49 mmol) in anhydrous THF (28 mL) was hydrogenated in the presence of 20% Pd(OH)₂ on carbon (20% w/w, 159 mg) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure for 6 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite and the pad rinsed with 2:1 CHCl₃—MeOH (2×10 mL). The filtrate was concentrated and dried overnight under high vacuum. The resulting residue was suspended in 2% aq triethylamine (TEA, 20 mL), bath sonicated for a few minutes, and lyophilized. Flash chromatography on silica gel with chloroform-methanol-water-triethylamine (gradient elution; 90:10:0.5:0.5-85:15:0.5:0.5) afforded 539 mg (72%) of 2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-decanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside (RC-524) as a colorless solid.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of 2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside triethylammonium Salt [A Compound of Formula (Ia) in which R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₁₃H₂₇CO, Z=Y=O, n=m=p=q=0, r=10, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=R₉=H, R₈=PO₃H₂)], Namely

This example utilizes a process as shown in Scheme 2.

(1) In the same manner as described in Example 4-(4), the compound prepared in Example 4-(3) (0.90 g, 1.49 mmol) was hydrogenated in the presence of 5% palladium on carbon (90 mg) in methanol (19 mL) to give 0.50 g (100%) of 2-aminoethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-amino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 18a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG₂=TBDMS) which was used without further purification in the next step.

(2) In the same manner as described in Example 4-(5), the compound prepared in (1) above (0.50 g, 1.49 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (15 mL) was acylated with (R)-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic acid (2.24 g, 4.93 mmol) in the presence of EDC-MeI and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine to give 1.09 g (44%) of 2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as an amorphous solid (compound 19, PG₂=TBDMS, Scheme 2; R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₁₃H₂₇CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H).

(3) In the same manner as described in Example 4-(6), the compound prepared in (2) above (1.04 g, 0.63 mmol) was phosphorylated with dibenzyl diisopropyl phosphoramidite (0.36 mL, 1.08 mmol), 4,5-dicyanoimidazole (DCI; 187 mg, 1.58 mmol), and m-CPBA (306 mg, 1.77 mmol) and deprotected with TFA (0.49 mL, 6.33 mmol) to give 1.08 g (95%) of 2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 4-O-dibenzylphosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside as an amorphous solid. (compound 20, PG₂=TBDMS, PG₃=Bn, Scheme 2; R₁=R₂=R₃=n-C₁₃H₂₇CO, X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H).

(4) In the same manner as described in Example 4-(7), the compound prepared in (3) above (1.04 g, 0.58 mmol) in anhydrous THF (33 mL) was hydrogenated in the presence of 20% palladium hydroxide (208 mg) to give 296 mg (53%) of 2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]ethyl 4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]-2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-β-D-glucopyranoside (RC-529) as a colorless solid.

EXAMPLE 6 Alternate Preparation of 2-aminoethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-amino)-β-D-glucopyranoside (Compound 18a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG₂=TBDMS), Namely

using allyl carbamate (Aoc) protection. This example utilizes a process as shown in Scheme 2.

(1) In the same manner as described in Example 2-(1), allyl N-(hydroxyethyl)carbamate (2.0 g, 14.0 mmol) was glycosylated with 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside (compound 15, PG=Aoc, Z=Oac; 5.19 g, 12.0 mmol) in the presence of BF₃-Oet₂ (2 equiv) in CH₂Cl₂ to give 4.87 g (79%) of 2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)ethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 17; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Aoc).

(2) In the same manner as described in Example 4-(2), the compound prepared in (1) above (4.87 g, 9.43 mmol), was de-acylated with conc NH₄OH (4 equiv) in MeOH to give 3.7 g (100%) of 2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)ethyl 2-deoxy-2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 17a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Aoc), which was used without further purification in the next step.

(3) In the same manner as described in Example 4-(3), the compound prepared in (2) above (1.27 g, 3.25 mmol) was silylated with TBDMS-Cl (0.91 g, 6.05 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (32 mL) to give 1.52 g (92%) of 2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)ethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-(allyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside compound as a white solid (compound 18; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Aoc, PG₂=TBDMS).

(4) A solution of the compound prepared in (3) above (0.77 g, 1.53 mmol) in a mixture of CH₂Cl₂ (30 mL) and water (0.15 mL) was treated with Bu₃SnH (2.1 equiv) and (Ph₃P)₃Pd (0.01 equiv) and stirred for 20 min and room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated and dried under high vacuum. The resulting yellow solid was triturated with t-butyl methyl ether to give 0.464 g (90%) of 2-aminoethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-amino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 18a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG₂=TBDMS).

EXAMPLE 7 Alternate Preparation of 2-aminoethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-amino)-β-D-glucopyranoside (Compound 18a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R=R₆=R₇=H, PG₂=TBDMS), Namely

using phthalimide protection. This example utilizes a process as shown in Scheme 2.

(1) A mixture of 2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α,β-D-glucopyranose (compound 15, PG=Phth, Z=Oac; 0.20 g, 0.42 mmol), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phthalimide 0.26 g, 0.84 mmol), and 4A molecular sieves (0.15 g) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (2.5 mL) under nitrogen was stirred for 20 min at room temperature and then treated dropwise with SnCl₄ (1.0 M in CH₂Cl₂; 0.8 mL, 0.8 mmol). The resulting pink slurry was stirred for 72 h at room temperature, partitioned between ice cold saturated aq. NaHCO₃ and CHCl₃, and filtered through celite. The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with water, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated. Flash chromatography on silica gel eluting with EtOAc-hexanes afforded 0.19 gm (75%) of 2-(phthalimido)ethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalamido-β-D-glucopyranoside as an amorphous solid (compound 17; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Phth).

(2) A solution of the compound prepared in (1) above (0.712 g, 1.17 mmol) in methanol (40 mL) was treated with a solution of 25% sodium methoxide in methanol (0.15 mL) and stirred for 20 min at room temperature. The reaction mixture was neutralized with Amberlite IT-120 (H+) resin (0.5 g), filtered, concentrated, and dried at high vacuum overnight to give 0.56 g (˜100%) of 2-(phthalimido)ethyl 2-deoxy-2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 17a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Phth), which was used without further purification in the next step.

(3) A solution of the compound prepared in (2) above (0.55 g, 1.14 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (9.5 mL) at room temperature was treated with TBDMS-Cl (1.1 equiv) and stirred at room temperature for 2 h. Additional TBDMS-Cl (1.6 equiv) was added in two portions over 2 h and the resulting mixture was stirred another 2 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc. The layers were separated and the organic phase was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated. Flash chromatography with CHCl₃-MeOH afforded 0.67 g (96%) of 2-(phthalimido)ethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-(phthalimido)-β-D-glucopyranoside compound as a white solid (compound 18; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG=Phth, PG₂=TBDMS).

(4) A mixture of the compound prepared in (3) above (0.65 g, 1.09 mmol) in n-butanol (11 mL), 4A molecular sieves (0.5 g), and polystyrene-bound ethylene diamine (1% cross-linked, 50-100 mesh, 7.5 g) was heated to reflux overnight. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated. The residue obtained was lyophilized from dioxane to give 0.37 g (˜100%) of 2-aminoethyl 6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2-deoxy-2-amino)-β-D-glucopyranoside as a white solid (compound 18a; X=O, n=m=p=q=0, R₄=R₅=R₆=R₇=H, PG₂=TBDMS

All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of making a glycosyl halide comprising reacting an O-silyl glycoside with an α,α-dihalomethyl alkyl ether in the presence of approximately a stoichiometric amount or greater, with respect to the silyl glycoside, of a member selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc bromide and boron trifluoride.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said silyl glycoside has the formula:

wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively and said glycosyl halide has the formula:

wherein R₂₀ has the formula R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si, in which R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and optionally substituted phenyl and A is Cl, Br or F.
 3. A method according to claim 2 in which R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said silyl glycoside has the formula:

wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively, and said glycosyl halide has the formula:

in which R₂₀ is R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si, in which R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and optionally substituted phenyl; and R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said silyl glycoside has the formula:

wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively; and said glycosyl halide has the formula:

wherein R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; and R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl.
 6. A method according to claim 2, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 7. A method according to claim 2 wherein A is Cl.
 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling said glycosyl halide with a monosaccharide in the presence of a silver salt to form a disaccharide.
 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said silver salt is silver trifluoromethanesulfonate.
 10. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of coupling said glycosyl halide with a monosaccharide in the presence of a silver salt to form a disaccharide.
 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said silver salt is silver trifluoromethanesulfonate.
 12. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of coupling said glycosyl halide with a monosaccharide in the presence of a silver salt to form a disaccharide.
 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said silver salt is silver trifluoromethanesulfonate.
 14. A method according to claim 8, wherein said monosaccharide is selected from: (i) a monosaccharide of the formula:

(ii) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₃ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; and (iii) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₃ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said alkanoyloxyacyl group is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 16. A method according to claim 8, wherein said disaccharide is (i) a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; (iii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; and (iv) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl and R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 18. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of silylating the C-4 hydroxyl of the said disaccharide with t-butylchlorodimethylsilane in the presence of imidazole in N,N-dimethylformamide to form a 3,4-bis (t-butyldisilylmethyl) disaccharide.
 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said 3,4-bis (t-butyldimethyl) disaccharide is (i) a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; or (iii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl and R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 21. A method according to claim 8, wherein said monosaccharide is (i) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; (ii) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; and R₂₃ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; or (iii) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₁ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl and R₂₃ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 23. A method according to claim 8, wherein said disaccharide is (i) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; (ii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; and R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; (iii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl and R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; or (iv) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; and R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl and R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 25. A method according to claim 18, wherein said 3,4-bis(t-butyldisilylmethyl) disaccharide is (i) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; (ii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl and R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; or (iii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl and R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl and R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 27. A method for producing a disaccharide comprising reacting a silyl glycoside with a monosaccharide in the presence of a Lewis acid.
 28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the Lewis acid is boron trifluoride diethyl etherate.
 29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the monosaccharide is (i) a monosaccharide of the formula:

(ii) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₃ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; or (iii) a monosaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₃ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the alkanoyloxyacyl group is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 31. A method according to claim 27, wherein the disaccharide is (i) a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; (iii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; or (iv) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; and R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 32. A method according to claim 31, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl and R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 33. A method according to claim 27 wherein the silyl glycoside has the formula

where R₂₀ has the formula R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si, in which R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and optionally substituted phenyl; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 34. A method according to claim 33 in which R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl.
 35. A method according to claim 27, wherein the silyl glycoside has the formula:

where R₂₀ is R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si, in which R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and optionally substituted phenyl; R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 36. A method according to claim 35, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 37. A method according to claim 27, wherein said silyl glycoside has the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 38. A method according to claim 37, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 39. A method of selectively removing acetyl protecting groups from a 3,4-bis (t-butyldisilylmethyl) disaccharide comprising contacting said disaccharide with a solution of ammonium hydroxide in methanol.
 40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the 3,4-bis (t-butyldimethyl) disaccharide is (i) a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ is an alkanoyloxyacyl group; or (iii) a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁ and R₂₃ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl groups; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively.
 41. A method according to claim 40, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl and R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 42. A method of making a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₁, R₂₃, and R₂₄ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl and R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl; and wherein PG represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively; comprising the steps of (i) providing a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) selectively protecting the 6′-hydroxyl group of said disaccharide with 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformate in the presence of a tertiary amine to form a 6′-protected disaccharide; and (iii) coupling said 6′-protected disaccharide with a phosphono side chain.
 43. A method according to claim 42, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, and R₂₄ is (R)-3-octadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 44. A method according to claim 42, wherein said phosphono side chain is prepared by (a) reacting said 6′-protected disaccharide with a phosphoramidite, followed by reaction of the product of step (a) with an oxidant.
 45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said phosphoramidite is dibenzyl diisopropylphosphoramidite and said oxidant is m-chloroperbenzoic acid.
 46. A method according to claim 42, wherein said phosphono side chain is prepared by reacting said 6′-protected disaccharide with a chlorophosphate in the presence of a tertiary amine.
 47. A method according to claim 46, wherein said chlorophosphate is bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl) chlorophosphate.
 48. A method according to claim 46, wherein said chlorophosphate is diphenyl chlorophosphate.
 49. A method of making a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl; R₂₁, R₂₃ and R₂₄ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl; and R₂₂ is selected from alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl comprising the steps of (i) providing a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) selectively protecting the 6′-hydroxyl group of the said disaccharide with 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformate in the presence of a tertiary amine to form a 6′-TCBOC disaccharide; and (iii) coupling said 6′-TCBOC disaccharide with a phosphono side chain.
 50. A method according to claim 49, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, and R₂₄ is (R)-3-octadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 51. A method according to claim 49, wherein the phosphono side chain is a bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)phosphono group.
 52. A method according to claim 49, wherein the phosphono side chain is a dibenzylphosphono group.
 53. A method according to claim 49, wherein the phosphono side chain is a bis[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl]phosphono group.
 54. A method according to claim 49, wherein the phosphono side chain is a diphenylphosphono group.
 55. A method of making a disaccharide of the formula:

where R₂₀ is t-butyldimethylsilyl or t-butyldiphenylsilyl; R₂₁, R₂₃ and R₂₄ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl; and R₂₂ is selected from alky, aryl, and alkaryl; comprising the steps of (i) providing a disaccharide of the formula:

(ii) selectively protecting the 6′-hydroxyl group of said disaccharide with t-butylchlorodimethylsilane to form a 6′-TBS disaccharide; and (iii) coupling said 6′-TBS disaccharide with a phosphono side chain.
 56. A method according to claim 55, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, and R₂₄ is (R)-3-octadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 57. A method according to claim 55, wherein the phosphono side chain is a bis[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl]phosphono group.
 58. A method according to claim 55, wherein the phosphono side chain is a bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)phosphono group.
 59. A method according to claim 55, wherein the phosphono side chain is a dibenzylphosphono group.
 60. A method according to claim 55, wherein the phosphono side chain is a diphenylphosphono group.
 61. A method of removing an anomeric silyl protecting group from a silyl glycoside, comprising the steps of (i) reacting said silyl glycoside with a dihaloalkyl alkyl ether in the presence of a member selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc bromide, and boron trifluoride so as to produce a glycosyl halide; and (ii) reacting said glycosyl halide with water in the presence of a silver salt.
 62. A method according to claim 61, wherein said silver salt is silver oxide or silver carbonate.
 63. A method for simultaneously removing all silyl-based protecting groups from a disaccharide having a plurality of silyl-based protecting groups comprising reacting said disaccharide with hydrogen fluoride or pyridinium poly(hydrogen fluoride).
 64. The method of claim 63, wherein said disaccharide has the formula:

where R₂₁, R₂₃, and R₂₄ are independently alkanoyloxyacyl.
 65. A method according to claim 64, wherein R₂₁ is (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, R₂₃ is (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl, and R₂₄ is (R)-3-octadecanoyloxytetradecanoyl.
 66. A method for preparing an aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate compound having the formula:

wherein X is

Y is —O— or —NH—; R¹ and R² are each independently selected from saturated and unsaturated (C₂-C₂₄) aliphatic acyl groups; R⁸ is —H or —PO₃R¹¹R¹², wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently —H or (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R⁹ is —H, —CH₃ or —PO₃R¹³R¹⁴, wherein R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently selected from —H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; and wherein at least one of R⁸ and R⁹ is a phosphorus-containing group, but R⁸ and R⁹ are not both phosphorus-containing groups; wherein the subscripts n, m, p, q, n′, m′, p′ and q′ are each independently an integer of from 0 to 6, provided that the sum of p′ and m′ is an integer from 0 to 6, and the subscript r is independently an integer of from 2 to 10; R³, R¹¹, and R¹² are independently saturated or unsaturated aliphatic (C₂-C₂₄) acyl groups; and when X is formula (Ia) or (Ic), one of R¹, R², R³, R¹¹ and R¹² is optionally hydrogen; R⁴ and R⁵ are independently selected from H and methyl; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃H₂, —OPO₃H₂, —SO₃H, —OSO₃H, —NR¹⁵R¹⁶, —SR¹⁵, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁵, —CONR¹⁵R¹⁶, —PO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —OPO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —SO₃R¹⁵ and —OSO₃R¹⁵, wherein R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R¹⁰ is selected from H, CH₃, —PO₃H₂, ω-phosphonooxy(C₂-C₂₄)alkyl, and ω-carboxy(C₁-C₂₄)alkyl; R¹³ is independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —OPO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —SO₃R¹⁷, —OSO₃R¹⁷, —NR¹⁷R¹⁸, —SR¹⁷, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁷, and —CONR¹⁷R¹⁸, wherein R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; and Z is —O— or —S—; comprising: (a) selectively 6-O-silylating a 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative having the formula:

wherein X is O or S; and PG independently represents a protecting group that forms an ester, an ether or a carbonate with the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group or that forms an amide or a carbamate with the nitrogen atom of an amino group, respectively; with a trisubstituted chlorosilane R_(a)R_(b)R_(c)Si—Cl wherein R_(a), R_(b), and R_(c) are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, and optionally substituted phenyl, in the presence of a tertiary amine, to give a 6-silylated derivative; (b) selectively acylating the 3-OH position of the resulting 6-O-silylated derivative with an (R)-3-alkanoyloxyalkanoic acid or a hydroxy-protected (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid in the presence of a carbodiimide reagent and catalytic 4-dimethylaminopyridine or 4-pyrrolidinopyridine to give a 4-O-acylated derivative; (c) selectively deprotecting the nitrogen protecting groups, sequentially or simultaneously, and N,N-diacylating the resulting diamine with an (R)-3-alkanoyloxyalkanoic acid or a hydroxy-protected (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid in the presence of a peptide coupling reagent; (d) introducing a protected phosphate group at the 4-position with a chlorophosphate or phosphoramidite reagent to give a phosphotriester; and (e) simultaneously or sequentially deprotecting the phosphate, silyl, and remaining protecting groups.
 67. A method according to claim 66 where PG represents 2,2,2-trichloroethyloxycarbonyl groups and the trisubstituted chlorosilane reagent is t-butyldimethylchlorosilane.
 68. A method according to claim 66 where the carbodiimide reagent used for 3-O-acylation is 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide methiodide and the catalyst is 4-pyrrolidinopyridine.
 69. A method according to claim 66 where the peptide coupling reagent used for N-acylation is 2-ethoxy-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline.
 70. A method according to claim 66 where the peptide coupling reagent used for N-acylation is 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide methiodide.
 71. A method according to claim 66 where the phosphate protecting group is benzyl or substituted benzyl.
 72. A method according to claim 66 where the phosphate protecting group is t-butyl.
 73. A method according to claim 66 where the phosphate protecting group is 2,2,2-trichloroethyl.
 74. A method according to claim 66 where the phosphate protecting group is 2-trimethylsilylethyl.
 75. A method according to claim 66 where the phosphate protecting group is allyl.
 76. A method according to claim 66 where PG represents 2,2,2-trichloroethyloxycarbonyl groups, the trisubstituted chlorosilane reagent is t-butylchlorodimethylsilane, and the phosphate protecting group is benzyl.
 77. A method according to claim 66 where PG represents 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl groups, the trisubstituted chlorosilane reagent is t-butylchlorodimethylsilane, and the phosphate protecting group is benzyl.
 78. A method according to claim 66 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative has the formula:


79. A method according to claim 66 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative has the formula:


80. A method according to claim 66 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative has the formula:


81. A method according to claim 78 wherein the glucopyranose derivative is reacted with t-butylchlorodimethylsilane in the presence of a tertiary amine to give a 6-O-silylated derivative having the formula:


82. A method according to claim 79 wherein the glucopyranose derivative is reacted with t-butylchlorodimethylsilane in the presence of a tertiary amine to give a 6-O-silylated derivative having the formula:


83. A method according to claim 80 wherein the glucopyranose derivative is reacted with t-butylchlorodimethylsilane in the presence of pyridine to give a 6-O-silylated derivative having the formula:


84. A method for preparing an aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate compound having the formula:

wherein X is

Y is —O— or —NH—; R¹ and R² are each independently selected from saturated and unsaturated (C₂-C₂₄) aliphatic acyl groups; R⁸ is —H or —PO₃R¹¹R¹², wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently —H or (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R⁹ is —H, —CH₃ or —PO₃R¹³R¹⁴, wherein R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently selected from —H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; and wherein at least one of R⁸ and R⁹ is a phosphorus-containing group, but R⁸ and R⁹ are not both phosphorus-containing groups; wherein the subscripts n, m, p, q, n′, m′, p′ and q′ are each independently an integer of from 0 to 6, provided that the sum of p′ and m′ is an integer from 0 to 6, and the subscript r is independently an integer of from 2 to 10; R³, R¹¹, and R¹² are independently saturated or unsaturated aliphatic (C₂-C₂₄) acyl, groups; and when X is formula (Ia) or (Ic), then one of R¹, R², R³; R¹¹ and R¹² is optionally hydrogen; R⁴ and R⁵ are independently selected from H and methyl; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃H₂, —OPO₃H₂, —SO₃H, —OSO₃H, —NR¹⁵R¹⁶, —SR¹⁵, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁵, —CONR¹⁵R¹⁶, —PO₃R¹⁵, R¹⁶—OPO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —SO₃R¹⁵ and —OSO₃R¹⁵, wherein R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R¹⁰ is selected from H, CH₃, —PO₃H₂, ω-phosphonooxy(C₂-C₂₄)alkyl, and ω-carboxy(C₁-C₂₄)alkyl; R¹³ is independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —OPO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —SO₃R¹⁷, —OSO₃R¹⁷, —NR¹⁷R¹⁸, —SR¹⁷, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁷, and —CONR¹⁷R¹⁸, wherein R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; and Z is —O— or —S—; comprising: (1) glycosylating an alcohol or thiol having the formula:

wherein X is S or O, PG is acetyl or substituted acetyl and PG′ is phthaloyl or substituted phthaloyl, with a glycosyl donor having the formula:

wherein PG is acetyl or substituted acetyl and PG′ is phthaloyl or substituted phthaloyl, and Q is Cl, Br, F, Oac, or C(CCl₃)═NH, in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst to give a 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative having the formula:

respectively wherein X is S or O; (2) selectively deprotecting the O-linked acetate groups present in the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative with ammonium hydroxide or sodium methoxide in methanol; (3) selectively 6-O-alkylating the resulting deacetylated derivative from step (2) with an alkyl halide in the presence of a tertiary amine to form a substituted methyl, substituted ethyl, benzyl or substituted benzyl ether; (4) selectively deprotecting the PG or PG′ groups with an alkali or diamine base; (5) simultaneously or sequentially tri-acylating the two amino groups and the 3-OH position with an (R)-3-alkanoyloxyalkanoic acid or hydroxy-protected (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid in the presence of a peptide coupling reagent; (6) introducing a phosphate group onto the 4-OH position with a chlorophosphate or phosphoramidite reagent to give a phosphotriester; and (7) simultaneously or sequentially deprotecting the phosphate group, the 6-O-alkyl group, and any remaining protecting groups.
 85. A method according to claim 84 where PG′ is a phthaloyl group.
 86. A method according to claim 84 where PG′ is a tetrachlorophthaloyl group.
 87. A method according to claim 84 where PG is an acetyl group.
 88. A method according to claim 84 where PG′ is a phthaloyl group, Q is Oac, and the Lewis acid glycosylation catalyst is stannic chloride.
 89. A method according to claim 84 where PG′ is a phthaloyl group, Q is C(CCl₃)═NH, and the Lewis acid catalyst is boron trifluoride etherate.
 90. A method according to claim 84 where PG′ is a phthaloyl group, Q is C(CCl₃)═NH, and the Lewis acid catalyst is trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate.
 91. A method according to claim 84 where PG is an acetyl group, Q is Oac, and the Lewis acid glycosylation catalyst is boron trifluoride etherate.
 92. A method according to claim 84 where PG is an acetyl group, Q is Oac, and the Lewis acid glycosylation catalyst is ferric chloride.
 93. A method according to claim 84 where PG is an acetyl group, Q is Oac, and the Lewis acid glycosylation catalyst is trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate.
 94. A method according to claim 84 where the 6-OH protecting group is a triphenylmethyl or substituted triphenylmethyl group.
 95. A method according to claim 84 where the phthaloyl groups are removed with hydrazine hydrate, an alkyldiamine or a resin-bound alkyldiamine.
 96. A method according to claim 84 where the peptide coupling reagent used for acylation of the amino groups is 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide methiodide.
 97. A method according to claim 84 where the peptide coupling reagent used for acylation of the 3-OH position is 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide methiodide and further comprising conducting said acylation of the 3-OH position in the presence of a 4-pyrrolidinopyridine catalyst.
 98. A method according to claim 96 wherein acylation of the amino and 3-OH groups is performed sequentially.
 99. A method according to claim 97 wherein acylation of the amino and 3-OH groups is performed simultaneously.
 100. A method according to claim 84 where the phosphate protecting group is benzyl or substituted benzyl.
 101. A method according to claim 84 where the phosphate protecting group is t-butyl.
 102. A method according to claim 84 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative has the formula:


103. A method according to claim 84 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative has the formula:


104. A method according to claim 102 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative is de-acetylated with sodium methoxide in methanol, and the resulting product is reacted with an optionally substituted triphenylmethyl chloride in the presence of a tertiary amine to give a 6-O-trityl derivative having the formula:


105. A method according to claim 103 where the 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose derivative is de-acetylated with sodium methoxide in methanol and the resulting product is reacted with triphenylmethyl chloride in the presence of a tertiary amine to give a 6-O-trityl derivative having the formula:


106. A method according to claim 104 where the 6-O-trityl derivative is N-deprotected with a resin-bound alkyldiamine to form a diamino diol having the formula:


107. A method according to claim where the compound of the formula in claim 105 is N-deprotected with aqueous barium hydroxide to form a diamino diol having the formula:


108. A compound having the formula:

wherein the subscripts n, m, p, and q are each independently an integer of from 0 to 6; R⁴ and R⁵ are independently selected from H and methyl; PG is Aoc or Troc; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃H₂, —OPO₃H₂, —SO₃H, —OSO₃H, —NR¹⁵R¹⁶, —SR¹⁵, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁵, —CONR¹⁵R¹⁶, —PO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —OPO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —SO₃R¹⁵ and —OSO₃R¹⁵, wherein R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R¹⁰ is selected from H, CH₃, —PO₃H₂, ω-phosphonooxy(C₂-C₂₄)alkyl, and ω-carboxy(C₁-C₂₄)alkyl; R¹³ is independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —OPO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —SO₃R¹⁷, —OSO₃R¹⁷, —NR¹⁷R¹⁸, —SR¹⁷, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁷, and —CONR¹⁷R¹⁸, wherein R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups.
 109. A compound having the formula:

wherein the subscripts n, m, p, and q are each independently an integer of from 0 to 6; R⁴ and R⁵ are independently selected from H and methyl; PG is independently Ac or optionally substituted phthaloyl; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃H₂, —OPO₃H₂, —SO₃H, —OSO₃H, —NR¹⁵ R¹⁶, —SR¹⁵, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁵, —CONR¹⁵R¹⁶, —PO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —OPO₃R¹⁵R¹⁶, —SO₃R¹⁵ and —OSO₃R¹⁵, wherein R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups; R¹⁰ is selected from H, CH₃, —PO₃H₂, ω-phosphonooxy(C₂-C₂₄)alkyl, and ω-carboxy(C₁-C₂₄)alkyl; R¹³ is independently selected from H, OH, (C₁-C₄) oxyaliphatic groups, —PO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —OPO₃R¹⁷R¹⁸, —SO₃R¹⁷, —OSO₃R¹⁷, —NR¹⁷R¹⁸, —SR¹⁷, —CN, —NO₂, —CHO, —CO₂R¹⁷, and —CONR¹⁷R¹⁸, wherein R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each independently selected from H and (C₁-C₄) aliphatic groups.
 110. A compound having the formula:


111. A compound having the formula:


112. A compound having the formula:


113. A compound having the formula:


114. A compound having the formula

wherein PG₂ is a hydroxyl protecting group.
 115. A method for preparing an aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate compound having the formula:

wherein R¹, R², and R³ are each independently selected from saturated and unsaturated (C₂-C₂₄) aliphatic acyl groups; comprising (a) reacting a compound having the formula

wherein PG₂ represents a hydroxyl protecting group, with a carboxylic acid having the formula R¹OH if R¹, R² and R³ are identical acyl groups or sequentially with carboxylic acids having the formula R¹OH, R²OH and R³OH if R¹, R² and R³ represent two or three different acyl groups; and (b) removing the protecting group PG₂. 